Last week, we talked about the importance of a positive mindset during this challenging time. Today, we’re going to dig into another part of weathering any storm, and that is your habits.

Many people are working from home regularly for the first time. Some of you may be used to working from home, but now you are doing so with family members in the house when you are used to peace and quiet. Still others are navigating the changing waters of your business, which means that you’ve got to work twice as hard just to keep pace.

All of these changes mean that you need to set yourself up for success, and that means establishing positive habits.

We all have our own habits. While one habit alone may have little impact, the collection of our habits creates patterns that directly and dramatically impact our successes or lack thereof.

It’s important to ask yourself: Are my daily habits setting me up for success? Will they help or hold me back from achieving my goals?

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act but a habit.” –Aristotle

Successful entrepreneurs understand the critical importance of their daily habits. Even more importantly, they know that their habits aren’t set in stone. Right now is a time when you are already changing so many of your regular habits. (Just think of the changes in your trips to the grocery store.) Changing professional habits might be necessary to ensure your continuing success.

You can break bad habits – even habits that feel like second nature – and replace them with productive habits you never thought you could master. Often, the difference in time, effort, and mental energy it takes to break a bad habit depends on the power of the emotion behind your choice. Wearing a mask and washing hands thoroughly are new habits that most people have readily adopted. If you can do that, you can change your work habits successfully as well.

Here are 7 practical tips to form positive habits for your business and your life.

1. Make a Choice and a Routine.

First and foremost, you have to make a clear, conscious choice, preferably recorded in writing, to adopt the habit on a daily basis. Once you’ve decided to start a new habit, create a routine that makes it a reality.

For instance, let’s say your goal is to make 3 calls per day, or 15 calls per week, to past, present, and future clients. Set aside time on your calendar every morning and don’t take up another task until you’ve met your daily calls goal.

2. Don’t Give Yourself An Out.

One way to ensure your new habit sticks is to tell yourself there are no exceptions or excuses anytime, for any reason. Don’t let worries or scheduling challenges impact your commitment to sticking to your habit.

Discipline yourself to perform the actions you chose to adopt. Repeat the behavior long enough and it will become second nature.

3. Make it Public.

Another strategy that will help you stay on course is telling someone you trust, such as a business mentor and strategist, about your plan to adopt the habit.

With the example above of reaching out to prospects daily, let your clients and prospects know via email that you’ll be calling them in order to be of value to them and express your care and concern for their personal well-being.

4. Picture Your Way to Success.

Visualization is a powerful tool that will help you stick to your new habit, especially when stress runs high. Visualize yourself performing each of the action steps that comprise the habit. The more you do this, the more your subconscious mind accepts it and it becomes easier to consistently perform those steps.

5. Say Positive Affirmations.

Words have tremendous power. When you create a positive affirmation and repeat it again and again, you accelerate the speed with which you adopt your desired habit.

Experts say it takes about 21 days to make or break an average habit, whether you want to kick-start your day by tackling your most difficult task, listen to educational business podcasts on your daily walk, or get to bed before 10 pm. With the right affirmation and sufficient repetition, you boost your ability to make it stick.

6. Commit to Staying the Course.

This strategy seems obvious, but it isn’t easy to stay on track. We have bad habits because of this! Creating positive and productive habits requires resolve. Make a commitment to yourself, resolve to continue the habit even when you don’t want to, and over time, your new habit will become second nature.

7. Reward Good Habits.

When you stick to performing your new behavior, it’s important to reward yourself. This will reinforce the behavior at an unconscious level, as you begin to associate pleasure with the behavior itself.

For example, after you successfully call your daily prospects before responding to your emails or checking Facebook, take a short break to indulge in a cup of your favorite gourmet coffee.

At Celeste Giordano Coaching, I work with entrepreneurs and sales professionals to develop the daily habits that will generate the RESULTS they seek. If you want a guiding hand as you adjust to a new business landscape, contact me today.

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Celeste Giordano’s mission is to help business owners develop the skills, knowledge and attitude necessary to “DoublePlus^TM” their income and become effective and inspirational leaders in their fields. Whether it’s taking your successful business to the next level or starting a new venture, she will teach you the exact skills and strategies you need to enroll more quality prospects, build a rock-solid team, and break through obstacles to achieve real profit and lasting success. Celeste is a professional business growth specialist, a master sales strategist, and dynamic speaker with 40 years experience in direct sales and managing high-performing teams.

To learn more about Celeste, click here.

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At Celeste Giordano Coaching, I work with each client to implement the strategies they’ve been missing that will enable them to break through barriers preventing them from the success they know they are capable of. Contact me today to find your future clients who just don’t know what they’re missing.